Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:49:56 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200280#Comment_200280 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200280#Comment_200280 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:27:13 +0100 Triassic
The company say this beats their previous best of 24.7% efficiency for crystalline silicon-based solar cells of a "practical size", achieved in February 2013.""

Made me wonder if I should be using conversion efficiency as a buying criteria, rather than cheapest price?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200281#Comment_200281 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200281#Comment_200281 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:32:18 +0100 SteamyTea https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200285#Comment_200285 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200285#Comment_200285 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 11:51:26 +0100 fostertom Posted By: TriassicMade me wonder if I should be using conversion efficiency as a buying criteria, rather than cheapest price?Why should you, unless short of roof space?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200303#Comment_200303 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200303#Comment_200303 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 14:38:26 +0100 Triassic Posted By: fostertomWhy should you, unless short of roof space? In the old days no one worried about vehicle fuel efficiency, now it helps sell cars. Thought the same approach could help sell solar! Maybe I'm wrong.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200305#Comment_200305 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200305#Comment_200305 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 15:09:58 +0100 SteamyTea https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200310#Comment_200310 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200310#Comment_200310 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 17:22:13 +0100 snyggapa solar cell efficiency is of academic interest unless you are constrained on space, as with less efficient cells you just use more of them.

However the improvement in technology is absolutely to be applauded though - if the improvements filter down to mainstream and costs eventually decrease then it's a good thing - it's just not likely relevant to 95+% of the customers at this point

For my roof, since I could only fit 6 panels I went for Sanyo HITs - I paid a large premium for them and are very happy, but I only got these because I needed 1.4kWp to meet building regs - if I had more roof I would have used more, less efficient but cheaper panels with a higher output overall.

of course if more efficient panels were available at a price than enhanced the overall payback, then it's a no-brainer

-Steve]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200349#Comment_200349 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200349#Comment_200349 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 09:48:55 +0100 Viking House https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200367#Comment_200367 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200367#Comment_200367 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 13:14:11 +0100 Triassic Posted By: Viking HouseHi Steve, how much were they per m2?No idea, the quote was from some advertising blurb about their R&D efforts, not even sure they are in production yet!]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200369#Comment_200369 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200369#Comment_200369 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 13:35:14 +0100 Ed Davies https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200449#Comment_200449 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200449#Comment_200449 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 10:24:32 +0100 snyggapa
6 (total 7.4m2) of panels cost us £8K so you could say >£1000/m2 - however the biggest part of that figure would be for installer's inflated profit margin under the old FIT regime. Less efficient panels would not have cost me much less]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200452#Comment_200452 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200452#Comment_200452 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 10:31:25 +0100 SteamyTea https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200458#Comment_200458 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200458#Comment_200458 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 10:52:21 +0100 snyggapa
I could probably have got the job done for half price a week later - that was the market price then... (who says that subsidies don't distort the market)

-Steve]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200493#Comment_200493 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=200493#Comment_200493 Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:32:42 +0100 Viking House Will that fit on the roof?]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=204665#Comment_204665 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=204665#Comment_204665 Mon, 30 Jun 2014 12:02:11 +0100 Greig Wilson
Remember that the panasonic efficiency is for the cell not the module efficiency which will be less.

I have a brief guide on some points to look at on our website;
http://green-uk.com/solar-pv/choosing-right-panels

Ultimately though the system will only perform if designed and installed well.]]> https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=204873#Comment_204873 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=11986&Focus=204873#Comment_204873 Wed, 02 Jul 2014 20:54:15 +0100 rhamdu
Roof space considerations don't really affect the choice unless you are either (1) off-grid or (2) prepared to spend extra money to save the planet, regardless of financial return on your investment.]]>